Calcium/Calmodulin Dependent Protein Kinase II Alpha
CaMKIINalpha
KIAA0968
CAMKA
Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase (CaM Kinase) II Alpha
Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type II Subunit Alpha
Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type II Alpha Chain
Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II Alpha-B Subunit
CaM Kinase II Alpha Subunit
CaM Kinase II Subunit Alpha
CaM-Kinase II Alpha Chain
CaMK-II Alpha Subunit
CaMK-II Subunit Alpha
EC 2.7.11.17
CaMKIIalpha
EC 2.7.11
CaMKIIα
CAMKIIA
MRD53
MRT63
The product of this gene belongs to the serine/threonine protein kinases family, and to the Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases subfamily. Calcium signaling is crucial for several aspects of plasticity at glutamatergic synapses. This calcium calmodulin-dependent protein kinase is composed of four different chains: alpha, beta, gamma, and delta. The alpha chain encoded by this gene is required for hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and spatial learning. In addition to its calcium-calmodulin (CaM)-dependent activity, this protein can undergo autophosphorylation, resulting in CaM-independent activity. Several transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been identified for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jun 2018]
Forensic Context
A study in human post-mortem brain tissues demonstrated that the CAMK2A gene was down-regulated in chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), CTE with Alzheimer's disease (CTE/AD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD) compared to normal subjects, indicating its role in memory function and long-term potentiation [Cho et al. DOI:10.1038/s41598-020-65916-y]. A separate study in human post-mortem tissues from sepsis patients found that the CAMK2A gene was down-regulated as part of the inhibited signalling by Wnt pathway specifically in the kidneys and lungs [Pinheiro da Silva et al. DOI:10.1111/jcmm.17938]. A study in mice demonstrated that hypothermia-induced neuronal necroptosis in the cerebral cortex involves a mechanism of oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage [Wang et al. DOI:10.1186/s11658-025-00772-0].